speedtrust is going to implement a new project on “Cyclone Sidr Recovery program” at more Sidr affected two unions of Kalapara Upazilla of Patuakhali district and it will cover around 2,500 families during the project period. The project has been awarded to Actionaid by the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) and other Actionaid affilitates through Actionaid international. The project has been effective from 1st Februaru to December 2008.

A six-member Scottish delegate led by Dr. Wali Tasar Uddin, MBE, D. Litt, JP, Hon Consul of Bangladesh in Scotland have been visited SIDR affected coastal areas at Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali district on 27-28 Feb. During their visit, they met with different stakeholders of SIDR affected people and discussed with the UNO of Kalapara ,Depury Commissioners of Patuakhali and Barisal and Divitional Commissioner od Barisal Divition regarding post SIDR initiatives of Government and other agencies. Mr. Shahidul Rahman, Sector Head of ActionAid was accoimpanied during the visit

Speedtrust has implemented emergency relief operation in the effected coastal areas of Kalapara, Bauphal, Galachipa and Dasmina upazilas of Patuakhali district and partial of Amtali of Brguna.Under this program 13,500 families directly received relief support including food and nonfood items which were equavelet to around six millan taka. Pond cleaning and tube-well repairing work are aso going on at four upazilas and 55% of work has already been successfully implemented. Rehabilitation program is uner way of implementation. ActionAid Bangladesh, Manusher Jonno Foundation and Concern worldwild are the core partners of these quick response.Europeon Commission is playing good role in assisting financial support.

Rakhain is a small tribe of arakan origin belonging to the Bhotbarmi community of the Mongoloids. There are 7,049 Rakhains in the Patuakhali region. Indigenous people, popularly known as ‘Adivashis’, are very much marginalized people in Bangladesh. In the social and economic terms, they represent the weaker section of the population and face greater odds in everyday life, with denial of their uniqueness and onslaught of the dominant class and culture. The richness of indigenous culture, like the indigenous people, has been obliterated and suppressed by the dominant society. This is also true even in case of folk and traditional art forms that flows like undercurrents in the mainstream society. This is a reflection of alienation in society and found expression in so many ways.
Speedtrust has taken an initiative to empower this community in socially and economically through non-formal education, upholding traditional culture, cotton cultivation, citizen rights awareness and horticulture development.

15 October, the Rural Women Day claiming on rights to food. On this occation, Speedtrust has observed the day with spontinous participation of all works of life at Bauphal, Dasmina, Patuakhali sadar and Kalapara upazilas under Patuakhali district. Rallies, Discussion, Art competition of children are the major components of the day. A poster with related message on women’s rights was published on the occation of the day.

A 4-day long ECD Facilitators’ Refresher Residential Training course has been conducted at SPEED Trust project office, Bauphal, Patuakhali, commencing from 11 Sep, 2007. 20 women facilitators of SAFAL and Promoting Good Governance Project from Kalapara and Dasmina upazla respectively are attended this course. The objective of the course to review their previous performance and how to overcome the problem locally and build their capacity for achieving quality education. The course was facilitated by speedtrust’s resource persons. These projects are funded by ActionAid Bangladesh and Manusher Jonno Foundation, Dhaka.

18 July 2007 was a different day for people at remote Tegachia village of Mithagonj Union under Kalapara upazila. Over 2000 villagers of Mithaganj Union took part in a open “People’s participatory budget declaration” session at Tegachia Bazar. As part of “Strengthening Union Parishad”, the budget of 2007-2008 of Mthagonj Union Parishad developed by people’s participation in a series of consultations. Wordwise 9 consultations, 1 Professional’s consultation, 1 Indigenous community consultation and finally wrap up consultation were made in the union parishad during May 2007. The programme was organized by the Mithaganj UP in association with speedtrust & ActionAid Bangladesh to ensure transparency and accountability of the local government at the grass-root level.